Although England did win the 2005 Ashes, the overall scoreline against Australia is 4-14. England did overall become a better test side, like the series record of won 14, lost 7, drew 6 shows. But England regressed bigtime after the Ashes, winning only 5 out of 18 tests after the 2005 Ashes, one of them a forfeit.

It was in one-dayers that England proved quite hopeless, despite a shock win in the one-dayers in Australia earlier this year. Winning 74 out of 165 doesn't look too bad. Scratch beneath the surface and take out Bangladesh (yes, them!), Zimbabwe and other minnows and the scoreline becomes 'Played 128, Won 41, Lost 79'. There were 3 teams against who England played at least 20 games (after the 1999 World Cup). The highest was Australia (26). Number two was (surprise!) Zimbabwe (23), more than India and Pakistan. Maybe it was the ECB's ploy to do a lot of confidence boosting.

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